“Have you been in a more beautiful place?” We asked our dear editor, as we sat and looked out towards an ocean swimming in magical blues. The majestic cliffs, covered with greenery, stand solemnly by, seemingly watching and waiting. We do not know or understand their purpose but we are in awe of the magnificence of the components that comprise this part of Kauai.
“I agree,” she answers, “although the world is a very beautiful place. Each part of it is unique. One does not have to decide; all one has to do is respect and enjoy.”
We continued to sit and stare at the wonders confronting us. “It makes you realize the power, artistry and creation that the Master of the World has bestowed upon us. If this is what He has been able to achieve, can you imagine what Hashem could do if he had Bill Gates’ money?”
The hike is close to the exceptional one we undertook last Friday, hike 14. Yet though similar, we rate this one superior notwithstanding the shorter duration. It is an ‘abandoned trail’, meaning that it is uncared for and removed from the official trail guide. It is a pity because other than some rough spots, it provided us with a good test of endurance, the need for some climbing skills and balance and traction on the narrow ledges. It amounted to over six miles and nearly two thousand feet of descent and return. The final part, our return up the mountain, took place in light rain. It was delightful but for the slippery slopes that developed.
We often watch the helicopters flying into the crevices, giving their paying passengers wonderful views from close up. Most of the time, we observe from above while standing on the cliff edges. At $250 a flight, we calculate we have saved $ 1,500 in our three visits to this part of the island so far. At this pace, we’ll be earning a fortune in saved money. Seriously, we have seen many more helicopters than people on the trails in Hawaii.
On Friday, we were fortunate to receive a much-needed ride from the trailhead to our car. Today, we consider ourselves fortunate to have reciprocated to a charming young German couple. We ended sharing stories of the trails for half-an-hour. They have visited New Zealand and so it made our discussion even more meaningful. We look forward to crossing paths with Louisa and Tillman sometime in the future.
Cheers,
Jenni and Jeffrey
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